Emergency health history kit and method of advertising and distributing the same

ABSTRACT

An emergency health history kit includes a housing which may be a transparent or translucent plastic case, or a paper envelope. At least one medical and emergency information card is disposed within the housing. Such cards include printed prompts and spaces for filling in personally identifying information, medical history information and medical care provider information for that individual. To offset the cost of the emergency health history kit, and enable it to be given as a promotional item free of charge, a sponsor or distributor identifying indicia is imprinted or otherwise associated with the housing, and at least one redeemable coupon or printed offer is disposed within the housing.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/307,045, filed Nov. 27, 2002, which claims priority from U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/334,265, filed Nov. 29, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to health history informationand medical emergencies. More particularly, the present inventionrelates to a method of advertising and distributing health history kitsuseable in medical emergency situations, and which also can be thevehicle of fundraising and promotions and/or community service programs.

When firefighters, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians answeran emergency call and a victim is either unconscious or has difficultyin communicating their physical condition, administrating even basicmedical treatment can be difficult. On the road at the scene of atraffic accident, or in the home at a residential emergency, respondingmedical technicians could more appropriately treat the victims and savemore lives if medical history and other emergency information werereadily available and easily accessible.

Many years ago, a medical and emergency information program designed forsenior citizens was introduced onto the market. The concept was to makeavailable to emergency personnel a senior citizens vital medical andemergency information at the scene where it is most needed. Theemergency information of the user was compiled on a preprinted sheet ofpaper, placed in a specimen vile, and then stored permanently in therefrigerator of the senior citizens own home. The refrigerator wasselected as the storage container because it is fire resistant,centrally located, and commonly checked by firefighters and paramedicsfor medications that may be taken by a victim. Soon thereafter, amarketing and advertising company expanded the program to include allmembers of a household. Again, the item was stored in the refrigerator,but this time the container, being a clear plastic case about the sizeof a business card, was promoted as an advertising tool first and a lifesaving tool second. The product was offered into the market place byspecialty advertising companies and used as an advertising/promotionaltool. However, even though the program was expanded to include alloccupants of a home, and the product itself was modified so as to be agood advertising tool, it again failed. Users complained that theprogram suffered from lack of community awareness and advertisers balkedat the cost of the item saying it was too expensive to use as apromotional tool.

Accordingly, there remains a continuing need for a method ofadvertising, promoting and distributing health history kits in a largenumber so that the information within such kits can be readily availableto medical emergency personnel. The present invention fulfills this needand provides other related advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventor has determined that in order for a program distributingmedical health history kits to succeed as a marketing and advertisingtool, numerous hurdles have to be overcome. First, it is necessary tofind a flagship distributor that has both the desire and ability todistribute the product throughout the entire community. Second, thedistributor must be in a position to benefit from name to logoidentification associated with having their message prominentlydisplayed in homes throughout the communities they serve. Third, thedistributor has to have a high enough visibility in the community sothat it can generate wide spread publicity for the program, and at thesame time profit from the publicity generated through public serviceannouncements on radio and television along with articles in local,regional and state publications. And finally, because of the high costsassociated with the health history kit, and other costs associated withsuch a dynamic promotion, the distributor needs to defray it's costs byforming a partnership with other interested advertisers.

The present invention fulfills these needs by providing in an emergencyhealth history kit and a method of distributing and advertising the sameso as to readily make such available to medical emergency personnel.

The emergency health history kit includes a housing which may becomprised of a transparent or translucent plastic case in oneembodiment, or a paper envelope in a second embodiment. Preferably, asponsor's or distributor's identifying indicia is imprinted onto thehousing, or may be imprinted onto a card which is readily viewablethrough the transparent plastic case. Typically, the housing isapproximately between three inches and six inches in dimension so as tobe easily stored in a glove compartment of a vehicle, or attached on orplaced in a refrigerator or the like.

At least one, and preferably many, medical and emergency informationcards are disposed within the housing. Such medical and emergencyinformation cards include printed or written prompts and spaces whichare to be filled out by the individual in order to provide thatindividual's personally identifying information, medical historyinformation, medical insurance information, and medical care providerinformation. In the event of an emergency, emergency medical personnelcan retrieve the emergency health history kit and use the medical andemergency information card to identify the patient, and properly treatthe patient using the medical history information and medical careprovider information on the card.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the emergency health history kitis given away as a promotional item by the sponsor and/or thedistributor. The sponsor or distributor has its name or logo printed onthe housing, or viewable therethrough, as an advertising mechanism forthe sponsor or distributor. Thus, the sponsor or distributor is willingto pay a portion of the cost of the health history kit. Additionally, atleast one redeemable coupon or printed offer is disposed within thehousing. Such coupons or offers may be from the sponsor or distributor,or third party vendors as a secondary means of offsetting the cost ofproducing and distributing the emergency health history kit.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following more detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way ofexample, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a health history kit embodying the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the health history kit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the health history kit illustrating acase thereof in an opened state;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the health history kit with internalcontents removed from the case;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of medical and emergency information cards,coupons and a card bearing a sponsor's or distributor's identifyingindicia in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of area “6” of FIG. 5, illustrating printedprompts and spaces on the medical information cards;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the health historykit of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the health history kit of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the health history kit of FIG. 7,illustrating medical and emergency information cards and coupons withinthe envelope; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the removal of such cards andcoupons from the envelope housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the presentinvention resides in an emergency health history kit 10 and 12 whichstores medical emergency information, is capable of being stored in aconvenient location which will be readily searchable by emergencypersonnel, and which incorporates distribution and advertisingincentives such that the health history kit 10 and 12 can be distributedwidely among the public.

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, the kit 10, in a first preferredembodiment, includes a housing comprising a plastic case 14. The plasticcase 14 is preferably translucent or transparent in order to enable theviewing of the contents therein, although such is not necessary. Thecase 14 is typically small so as to be easily stored within or on arefrigerator, or the like, or within one's glove box of an automobile.Typically, the case 14 is between three and six inches in length andwidth. The invention contemplates the use of a double-sided adhesive forattaching the case 14, and its contents within or on a refrigerator, orthe like so as to be easily viewed by emergency personnel. Therefrigerator or a glove compartment of a vehicle are preferablelocations for the health history kit 10 and 12 as emergency healthpersonnel are already trained to search such locations in an attempt tofind prescriptions or other personal information.

In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the case 14 comprises a squareor rectangular case of translucent or transparent plastic material whichis hinged so as to be selectively opened and closed in order to accessthe contents therein. The use of the plastic case 14 as the housing ispreferred in the residential setting as such a case 14 can be insertedwithin a refrigerator and protect the contents within the case 14 fromexcess moisture in the refrigerator and the like.

With reference now to FIGS. 8-10, the housing need not comprise aplastic case 14, as described above, but rather can comprise a paperenvelope 16 of approximately the same dimensions described above inorder to be stored in a glove compartment of a vehicle, or on or withina refrigerator. Such paper envelopes 16 are particularly adapted for usein the glove compartment of a vehicle as they are small and compact, anddo not generate noise during driving of the vehicle. Such paperenvelopes 16 include an open end 18 for removal of the contents thereof.

With reference now to FIGS. 4-6 and 10, the case 14 or envelope 16contains at least one, and preferably four, medical and emergencyinformation cards 20. With particular reference to FIG. 6, each card 20includes printed prompts 22 and a space 24 to be filled out by theindividual to provide the prompted information.

The medical emergency information cards 20 require the user to completethe cards by providing information that may include, but not to belimited to: their name, date of birth, sex, home address, home andoffice telephone numbers, medical insurance company, medical insuranceplan number, name and address of the preferred hospital, the name andtelephone number of their primary physician. Additionally, each medicalinformation card 20 may require the user to provide their blood type,and indicate whether or not they have various health ailments, a briefdetail of their medical history, prescribed medications, and allergiesthey suffer from. Space may also be provided for the name, address andtelephone number of a friend or relative designated to contact in theevent of an emergency. Preferably, printed directly above the spaceprovided for the emergency contact is the following warning: “Contactyour doctor before completing medical information cards. Complete allforms in pencil, keep all data up to date and accurate”.

The user is instructed to either place the kit in or on therefrigerator, or within the glove compartment of his or her automobile.Thus, the health history kit 10 and 12 of the present invention enablesits users to keep “on file” their pertinent medical emergencyinformation. Responding emergency personnel are provided with vitalemergency information at the scene, where it is most needed.

In addition to being a life saving tool, the kit of the presentinvention 10 and 12 is also designed as a specialty advertising andpromotional tool. Every kit 10 and 12 whether it be made of plastic,paper or any other material, allows for the distributing advertiser tohave its identifying indicia in the form of its company name, logoand/or message 26 prominently displayed on the face of the case 14. Theidentifying indicia or message 26 can be imprinted directly onto thecase 14 or paper envelope 16, or imprinted upon a card 28 which isviewable through the clear case 14. In either event, the logo or message26 is intended to be viewed predominantly when viewing the kit 10 or 12.This concept enables the advertiser to permanently advertise its messageto clients and/or perspective clients, and at the same time establishitself as a goodwill company in the community it serves.

The kits 10 and 12 are intended to be manufactured and then assembledunder the direction of an issuing company. The kit 10 or 12, itsmanufacture, assembly, design, layout and other aspects of the productand the promotion will be negotiated between the issuing manufacturerand the distributor, and perhaps one or more sponsors. The kits 10 or 12are intended to be manufactured and assembled exclusively for and onbehalf of the distributor. The distributor in this instance is thecompany that distributes or assists in the distribution of the kits 10or 12 into the community. For example, the distributor may be a grocerychain, gas and service station chain, fast food restaurant, or the like.Such distributors would be ideal as a great number of consumers visitsuch locations on a regular basis. The distributor need not be limitedto such locations, but can be any company looking for an advertising,promotional, or goodwill tool, such as an insurance company.

Additionally, the kit 10 or 12 is intended to be cross-marketed. Inorder to defray the costs of producing the kits 10 or 12, advertisingmessages, redeemable coupons or other offers 30 from one or moresponsors are included within the kit 10 or 12. Such cross-marketing isbelieved to enable the kits 10 or 12 to be offered by the distributor ata significantly reduced rate, or even enable the distributor to give thekit 10 or 12 away as a promotional item. It is believed that this willenable the kits 10 or 12 to be distributed on a much larger scale, andyet be economically feasible for the participating distributors andsponsors.

A sponsor may negotiate a price with the manufacturer and/or distributorto have their coupons 30 included in the kit 10 or 12. The costsassociated with the production, printing, and insertion of the sponsor'scoupon 30 into the kit 10 or 12 will be negotiated between the sponsorand the manufacturer and/or distributor. A sponsor may act as adistributor in the distribution of the kits 10 and 12. For example, thegrocery chain may in fact offer “in house” coupons 30 for produce,meats, house brands, etc., along with home safety products such as burnointments, band-aids, flashlights, batteries, etc. Thedistributor/sponsor can choose a peak shopping holiday to tie in thepromotion. An example would be Thanksgiving or the Fourth of July.Alternatively, the distributor may seek sponsors having tie in productswith their business. For example, a gas service station may desire tohave coupons 30 from sponsors for oil, candy, auto repair, auto rental,etc.

The company purchasing the kits 10 or 12 may not in fact be the companyactually distributing the kits 10 or 12. For example, Coca Cola® maydesire to purchase the kits 10 and 12 and have various grocery chains,restaurants, or the like distribute the kits 10 and 12. Coca Cola® coulddefray its costs by not only including sponsor's coupons, but alsonegotiating space on the cover of the kit 10 or 12 with the companyactually distributing the kits 10 and 12. The distributor can maintainthe right to partner with one or more sponsors so as to lower its costsof the product and the promotion. The distributor may also maintain theright to partner with numerous sponsors so as to completely eliminatethe cost of the product, or even generate revenue from its sponsor orsponsors that exceeds the price of the kits 10 and 12. This provides atremendous incentive for the distributor to carry and give away the kits10 and 12 to the consumers.

The present invention provides a distributor with the unique andinnovative array of marketing and advertising benefits that, whencombined, creates a concept which has never been equaled in thespecialty advertising promotional industry. As discussed above, thedistributor's name, company logo and/or message 26 will be prominentlydisplayed on the refrigerator door in the user's residence and/or in theglove compartment of user's automobiles for a prolonged period of time,and possibly for the life of the individual.

The manufacturer of the product will encourage and may assist thedistributor to contact local, regional and state newspapers, radio andtelevision stations to announce their participation in the program as apublic service announcement. Local and state fire and emergencypersonnel may be requested to conduct a press conference to publicizethe promotion. Such advertising costs the distributor nothing but comeswith the tremendous goodwill and advertising. Additionally, the programserves as a public service as the public is educated and given theopportunity to obtain a potentially life saving product.

The distributor has the option of choosing the day, week or month of thepromotion, and may tie the promotion into a shopping holiday or the likeas described above, in order to increase foot traffic which will resultin additional business.

Due to the fact that the one or more distributors may contract with oneor more sponsors to include either their logos or messages 26 or coupons30, the cost of the kits 10 and 12 can be significantly reducedpreferably to zero, or even become a money making venture. In the eventthat money is made from the promotion, the distributor may choose todonate the proceeds to a charitable organization, further establishinggoodwill in the community.

Although several embodiments have been described in some detail forpurposes of illustration, various modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, theinvention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.

1. A method for funding the creation and distribution of an emergencyhealth history kit, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining asponsor who at least partially pays for the creation and distribution ofthe emergency health history kit; providing an envelope or a case havingthe sponsor's identifying indicia imprinted on the case or envelope, oron a card disposed within the case or envelope so as to be viewabletherethrough; providing at least one medical and emergency informationcard disposed within the envelope or case, wherein the medical andemergency information card includes written prompts and spaces forpersonally identifying information and personal medical information,including at least one of personal medical history information, medicalinsurance information, and medical care provider information; providingat least one redeemable coupon or printed offer associated with theenvelope or case; and distributing the envelope or case with the atleast one medical and emergency information card and at least oneredeemable coupon or printed offer.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinthe sponsor fully pays for the creation and distribution of theemergency health history kit.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein at leastone of the redeemable coupons or printed offers are provided by anon-sponsor third party.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein thenon-sponsor third party contributes to the cost of the creation anddistribution of the emergency health history kit.
 5. The method of claim1, wherein the distributing step includes the step of giving theenvelope or case with the at least one medical and emergency informationcard and at least one redeemable coupon or printed offer to the publicat no charge as a community service.
 6. The method of claim 1, whereinthe case or envelope is configured to substantially enclose the at leastone medical emergency information card and at least one redeemablecoupon therein.
 7. A method for funding the creation and distribution ofan emergency health history kit, the method comprising the steps of:obtaining a sponsor who pays for the creation and distribution of theemergency health history kit; providing an envelope or a case; providingat least one medical and emergency information card disposed within theenvelope or case, wherein the medical and emergency information cardincludes written prompts and spaces for personally identifyinginformation and personal medical information, including at least one ofpersonal medical history information, medical insurance information, andmedical care provider information; providing at least one redeemablecoupon or printed offer associated with the envelope or case; anddistributing the emergency health history kit by giving the envelope orcase with the at least one medical and emergency information card and atleast one redeemable coupon or printed offer to the public at no chargeas a community service.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the sponsor'sidentifying indicia is imprinted on the case or envelope, or on a carddisposed within the case or envelope so as to be viewable therethrough.9. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the redeemable couponsor printed offers are provided by a non-sponsor third party.
 10. Themethod of claim 7, wherein the non-sponsor third party pays the sponsorfor the coupons included in the emergency health history kit.
 11. Themethod of claim 7, wherein the case or envelope is configured tosubstantially enclose the at least one medical emergency informationcard and at least one redeemable coupon therein.
 12. A method forfunding the creation and distribution of an emergency health historykit, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining a sponsor who paysfor the creation and distribution of the emergency health history kit;providing an envelope or a case having the sponsor's identifying indiciaimprinted on the case or envelope, or on a card disposed within the caseor envelope so as to be viewable therethrough; providing at least onemedical and emergency information card disposed within the envelope orcase, wherein the medical and emergency information card includeswritten prompts and spaces for personally identifying information andpersonal medical information, including at least one of personal medicalhistory information, medical insurance information, and medical careprovider information; providing at least one redeemable coupon orprinted offer associated with the envelope or case, at least one of theredeemable coupons or printed offers being provided by a non-sponsorthird party, wherein the third party pays the sponsor for its redeemablecoupons or printed offers inserted in the envelope or case; anddistributing the emergency health history kit by giving the envelope orcase with the at least one medical and emergency information card and atleast one redeemable coupon or printed offer to the public at no chargeas a community service.